Police ID victim, expect to charge other driver in fatal early morning crash

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:44pm

Staff reports

The driver who police say is responsible for the early morning fatal wreck on Interstate 65 north near Wedgewood Avenue is expected to face a vehicular homicide charge once she is released from the hospital.

At 4 a.m. Wednesday, according to police, 22-year-old Rebecca Benson drove her 2006 Lexus south onto the northbound lanes of the interstate just before crashing head-on into a van driven by Stephanie Leonard, 29, of Franklin.

Leonard died at the scene.

Benson, of Antioch, was critically injured and was being treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center Wednesday.

According to police, Benson entered the interstate at Broadway just prior to the crash, and officers first on the scene reported smelling alcohol on Benson. She also acknowledged drinking prior to the collision, police said.